Indian Polity - Constitutional Features

Key Features of Indian Constitution

• Following are the important features of the Indian Constitution −

  • Indian Constitution is a 'written' constitution.

  • Indian Constitution is 'flexible' (it can be amended), but it is also 'rigid' (as some part, i.e., its 'basic structure' cannot be amended).

  • Indian Constitution is 'Unitary' (as Center has more power), but it is also 'Federal' (as power is divided between the Center and the State).

Other Facts of Constitution

• The Indian National Congress made a demand for a Constituent Assembly in 1934, which came into existence for drafting the constitution of India on 9 December 1946.

• The Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution for independent India between 9 December 1946 and 26 November 1949.

• We, the people of India, have adopted and enacted the Indian Constitution on 26 November 1949; however, it was made fully functional on 26 January 1950.

• Constitution is a fundamental set of rules and principles on the basis of which the people of this country obliged to be governed by.

• The fundamental rules of Constitution define the type of government and its constituent's parts as well as the nature of the policies to be adopted by the country.

• So, the Constitution serves as a pivot in striking a balance between the differences and provides safeguards to the interests of each of its citizen.

• Likewise, the Constitution of India makes India a democratic country and determines −

  • the procedures of government formation;

  • the methods and process of government's functionality; and

  • the process of interactions among the different parts of the government in the specific area of their work.

• In addition, the Constitution also defines a list of Fundamental Rights that are an important part of the Constitution to protect the interest of every citizen against the tyranny of the state as well as from the dominance of a particular community (Who are in majority and in power).

• The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the source of all the powers and authority of the government and its organs. Likewise, the government not only derives its origins from the Constitution, but discharges its functions and responsibilities within the framework of the Constitution.